One of the most satisfying parts of my work is one-on-one coaching. I work with writers on large and small projects and with students on their application essays for undergraduate and graduate programs.
Work with writers looks like this: some writers contact me at the start of the process, with an idea which We then turn into a project, which will go through a number of drafts before becoming viable.
Regular meetings – part craft talk and strategies and part workshopping the pages that the writer has submitted – can take place in person or virtually and follow a prearranged schedule.
Other versions of this process can begin at any time in the writer’s work – with a drafted manuscript or earlier. Feeling blocked or structurally lost is a great reason to look for a coach, and I genuinely enjoy addressing those challenges and helping a writer get to the other side.
Work with applicants is a little different. an applicant contacts me at any point in the process, and we meet in person or virtually to craft an essay that reveals who they are and what they care about in a way that admissions offices will find unique and compelling. this process can be eye-opening, even for the student.
the following testimonialsfrom coaching clients reveal their coaching experience:
Virginia's feedback ranged from much needed grammatical fixes to challenging me on themes and passages where I needed to dig deeper into my process. It was up to me to rise to the occasion, while knowing that I was accompanied by her supportive encouragement. Our meetings were lively and fun. I'm happy to say that the result was my novel, a fable, being published by UnCollected Press in 2022. It has since gone on to become a 2023 Nautilus Book Awards Gold Winner for Young Adult Fantasy!
I owe much to Virginia's expertise and professional style. I highly recommend her editing and coaching services to aspiring writers, as well as attending her workshops. Pieter L.
Being in Virginia’s care while applying to MFA programs is a gift I would give myself–and any other budding writer–again, and again, and again. Her wisdom, expertise, and compassion guided each step of the process, from brainstorming, drafting, and revising the essays and personal statements, to a sharp edit of my manuscript, and finally, to her letters of recommendation, which I’m certain held up my strengths and opportunities for growth in the most honest and compelling ways. Virginia’s coaching helped me understand what I wanted most from an MFA experience, what kind of writer I wanted to be, and how to communicate that in my portfolio. Now in my final term at the Bennington Writing Seminars, I look back at the essay I wrote for my application and I see the bones of who I am now, the writer I’ve become. Somehow, Virginia saw where I was and also saw where I would be. That essay–and my success in an MFA program–wouldn’t have existed without Virginia. Collaborating with her will be the first thing you do, before your MFA even starts, to elevate your writing. Kim C.
If you’d like to contact me about a project or application essay, please email me here. Rates available upon request.
